Automatic funnel.



G. 0. SAUERMANNQ AUTOMATIC FUNNEL.

APPLICATION man NOV. 20. ms.

Patented. A 23, 1918.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESSES GUSTAVE 0. SAUEBMANN, .0]? KENESAW,NEBRASKA. i

AUTOMATIC FUNNEL.

Application filed November 20, 1915. Serial No. 62,675.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUs'rAvn O. SABER- MANN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Kenesaw, in the county of Adams and State ofNebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AutomaticFunnels, of which the following is a specification.

An object of my invention is to provide a new and improved automaticfunnel that consists of novel means to normally retain the closure valvein an open position, mechanism to cause the proper actuation of theretaining means in order to allow the valve to move into a closedposition at the tine the level of the fluid in the container, inconnection with which the device is being used, reaches a desiredheight, and means whereby the operator may retain the closure valve in aseated position after it has been released to automatically move intothat position; thereby permitting the funnel to be moved from onecontainer to another without creating liability of spilling therliquid'remaining therein.

My invention, has for another object, the provision of a device of thetype in question that is extremely simple in construc tion, strong anddurable, and highly practical from both the standpoint of themanufacturer and the standpoint of the user; and which, it is believed,may be manufactured at a minimum cost.

, Various other objects and advantages will become apparent during thecontinuance of the following description.

lhese objects are accomplished by such means as are shown in theirpreferred form in the accompanying drawings, described in the followingspecification and then more specifically pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like characters designate likeparts throughout the several views;

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my invention showing the sameas in its preferred embodiment; and in conjunction with a bottle neck ofsubstantially the conventional form.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1. V

In the drawings A designates a bottle neck of substantially theconventional form in connection with which my invention is Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 23., 191%..

shown. It is to be understood however that I do not limit myself in anymanner to the use of my invention in connection with a container havinga neck of this specific form, but desire to point out that my improvedfunnel is readily applicable to the Various forms of containers and thenecks thereof, which are now in use.

My improved funnel consists more essentially of a body structure 10 thatis slightly tapered toward its lower end, as are the majority of devicesof this character, and which supports at its lower end a mouth or spoutstructure 11 through the medium of a transverse supporting shoulder 12.As is clearly shown in Fig. 1, in the use of the funnel in connectionwith a container having a neck of the type shown, the shoulder 12 restson the upper edge of the neck and thus properly supports the body of thefunnel at all times. This form of means for supporting the body of thefunnel is especially desirable at the time the liquid is being pouredinto the funnel in that it eliminates the necessity of the operatorsteadying the funnel with one hand.

In order to properly support the closure valve (which will be presentlydescribed), and at the same time provide for the uniform dispensing ofthe liquid from the body of the funnel to the mouth or spout 11, Iarrange within the body, preferably at a point slightly above the upperterminus of the mouth or spout, a centrally apertured disk 13 which hasits circumferential edge bent as at 14: to facilitate a more secureconnection with the body of the funnel. Adjacent a central point, theframe 13 carries a depending outlet tube 15 to permit a flow of liquidfrom the body of the funnel to the mouth or spout 11, which is provided,substantially intermediate its ends with a bearing 16.

I further provide a ball valve 17 that carries a depending guide rod 18to be journaled through the bearing 16, while the guide rod 18, in turncarries a second and smaller ball 19 at its lower end. The valve 17preferably madeof a diameter whereby it is capable of closing the outlet15 at certain times to prevent the further dispensing of the liquidcontained in the body of the funnel, while the other ball 19 may beformed of a diameter materially less than the diameter of the outlet soas to not in any way obstruct or impede the flow of liquid from theoutlet to the mouth or spout 11.

Consistent with the foregoing, I have devised improved means fornormally retain- 5 ing the valve 17 in a raised po-sitionin order toallow the dispensing of liquid from the body of the funnel through themouthor spout 11 to the respective container, and to this end I providea pair of detents 20 each of which is pivotally supported within thebody of the funnel, slightly below the lower terminus of the outlet 15,through the medium of the transverse supporting rods 21. One end of eachof the detents has pivotal connection, as at 22, with one of thesupporting rods 23, the latter being bent to -for1n a horizontal element21 to normally rest on the shoulder 12 or" the funnel, whil they furthersupport a float- 25 adjacent their 2.( lower ends as clearly shown inFig. l. The weight of the rods 23 and the float 25 will normally retainthe detents in the positionshown in Fig. 1 so that their inner ends willengage and support the ball 19 and thus retain the valve '17 in an openposition with respect to the outlet 15. On the other hand should thefloat 25 be moved upwardly, such as caused by the rising of the level ofthe.

fluid in the neck of the container in connection with which'the tunnelis used, the detents 20 will be made to rock upon their respectivepivots, the rods 21, in order to permit the ball 19 to move downwardlyand thus cause the proper seating oi. the valve 17 In order to partlydeflect the fluid passing downwardly through the mouth or spoutstructure 11 and to somewhat nullify the pressure of that fluid upon thefloat 25, I provide the mouth or spout structure with 40 a series oftransverse openings 26 through which a portion of this fluid may pass.

'Ihese openings are preferably arranged in the mouth or spout structureat a point appreciably above the float as clearly shown in Fi 1. I b

After the level of the fluid in the cont ainer in connection with whichthe funnel is used reaches a desired height and the valve 17 has beenpermitted to move to a closed position it is of course desirable toprovide means for retaining the valve in this position in order that thefunnel may be removed from the container without the liability of thevalve again moving into an open position. To this end I provide anactuating rod 27 one end of which is movably connected to the valve 17as at 28, while its other end projects through a guide member 29'adjacent the upper edge of the funnel body and'bent -as at 30 to form asuitable finger-engaging portion 31. It is contemplated to arrange thefinger-engaging portion of the rod 27 in proximity to the handie of thetunnel in order that the operator may actuate the same with ease. Byexerting a slight downward pressure on the finger-engaging portion ofthe rod, the latter will be moved in a like direction and thus securelyretain the valve 17 in place.

From the foregoing it is believed that the advantages and novel featuresof my invention will be readily understood and therelkn'e furtherdetailed description is deemed unnecessary.

In reducing my invention to practice I find that the form referred toherein as the most practical and preferred embodiment is the mosteflicient, but realizing that certain conditions will necessarily *aryin concurrence with the adoption of my device, I desire to emphasize thefact that various ininor changes in the details of construction and inthe proportion of parts may be re sorted to when required withoutsacrificing any of the advantages of my invention as defined in theappended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A funnel, comprising the usual body 00 and spout, there being aninner shoulder between the body and spout, a valve within the body fornormally shutting oil the fiow of liquid therethrough, a detent forholding the valve unseated under normal conditions, a float disposedwithin the spout, and connecting means between the float and detent andhaving an oiiset portion to engage the said inner shoulder to normallyhold the parts in predetermined position.

' A funnel, comprising the usual body and spout, a disk within the lowerportion of the body and having a centrally disposed opening, a tubedepending from the disk in line with the openings thereof, a guide within the tube, a valve for closing the opening of the dish, a stemdepending from the valve and co-acting with the guide, opposed detentsfor engaging the stem and normally holding the valve unseated, a float,and connecting means between the detents and float and normally engaginga part of the tunnel to hold the parts in given position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GUSTAVE O. SAUERMANN.

Witnesses EARLE Bownns, II. M. RUssnLL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C.

